Painting 90s oak trim white - thoughts/opinions?

13 years ago

I have a house built in the 90s with oak trim. I'd like to paint it white because I prefer the look, and from reading lots of threads it seems it isn't a travesty to paint over standard grade trim, even if it is real oak.

That being said, I have a few questions in particular:
1) Any strong disagreement to painting this white based on my pictures?
2) Recommendations for the exact paint color to use? I'm thinking not straight white, but not sure how to pick a non-straight-white color...
3) For the doors, I'm liking the 'craftsman' style from the big box store (painted white to match) - looks like this: http://imagethumbnails.milo.com/020/333/707/trimmed/20333238_25097707_trimmed.jpg
Is this too much of a personal taste door to put in and I should just stick with the typical 6 panel doors most people have?
4) I plan to leave the cabinetry oak, and want to keep the wood blinds you see and other 'nice' looking oak accents like the mantle/banister/etc. around the house - does that sound ok even after I've painted the trim and window casings white?

Opinions and advice appreciated, thanks!

Featured Answer

TanCalGal

13 years ago

If I painted the trim and added new doors, I'd paint the stair area like this photo.

Quiet Casual Home: Entryway and Stair · More Info

However, I would not paint the trim if I owned this house. The oak trim adds a distinctive character that white paint slapped on or new-non-quality-doors-from-Lowe's can not duplicate. The stained wood blinds look so good, too. They will have to be changed to white wood if you paint the window trim white. The house's problem as I see from here is the color paint on the walls. I'd paint all walls a light neutral and I might add new door knobs. I'd probably spend my $$ upgrading the floors to hardwood n a tone that enhances the oak trim you have.

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Comments (16)

elcieg
13 years ago
Do the doors. Paint everything you want to paint white. See how you like that. Can we see the stairs and mantel?
Ning Liu
13 years ago
I have exactly the same trim and door. I like the craftsman door style too, but was wondering if the craftsman door style go with the existing trim. Should we consider a craftsman trim?
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Staging Dallas
13 years ago
Typically blinds are matched to the trim color. Once you paint, you may decide you want new blinds. Never hurts to wait and see, though. I like the craftsman door, I don't think it is too "out there" for resale, if that is your concern.
michigan_2426
Original Author
13 years ago
Here is a picture of the stairwell, and you can see the edge of the mantle on the brick fireplace in one of the other pictures (it is pretty standard).

Which parts of the stairwell would or wouldn't you paint white?

Any experience with a particular shade of white someone recommends?
michigan_2426
Original Author
13 years ago
Re:olldj22

Thanks for the stairwell picture - I think that idea will work really well here, I like it a lot.

I do need to update the wall color in about half the house still (including the picture with the blinds as well as the stairwell). Some of the wall colors already picked (like the blue bedroom picture) were done with the intention of making the trim white before too long. I think the color picked in the kitchen worked either way.

As for the doors - the ones you see in the picture are probably the cheapest flat hollow core veneer doors you could have and are my #1 most disliked feature of the house - they definitely don't add to the appeal of the house in that regard. I'm looking at the big box store doors because I have 16 or so doors to replace and unfortunately can't spend a few hundred on each door. I figure I'll wait until they have the free upgrade to solid core and order them then.

Thanks for the feedback!
PRO
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
13 years ago
Oh, yes indeed I would paint every piece of oak trim and doors white. I very much like your Craftsman door and would select it...unless they are offering a simple Shaker style door, which I find even more appealing. SW 6385 Dover White is a favorite.

Regarding your oak cabinets, I would certainly paint them, either white or another color that works well with what you select for the walls, and perhaps you could address that in another houzz "design delimma" question.
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
michigan_2426
Original Author
13 years ago
Do you have a picture of the simple shaker style door you have in mind? (googling it comes up with a lot of different styles, including the one I was calling craftsman :) )

Thanks so much for the exact paint color you recommend, I prefer SW anyway, and now that I know the name of the color I see that it sounds like everyone loves that one for trim. I'd like to use latex paint due to the smell of oil based, and I'll ask SW, but do you think they are going to tell me I have to use oil based for the trim to last?
PRO
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
13 years ago
We've lived in our house with latex semi-gloss trim for 16 years. No problem, tho we touch it up as needed every few years.

As for the simple shaker style door, it's just a larger version of a shaker style cabinet door, which is a single panel with straight edges. Actually, it's like your craftsman door, but a single long panel. Lovely, and simple.
Terri
13 years ago
I recently painted my doors black and simply love it. If black is too strong you could try SW black bean. As far as the white trim, I used Benjamin Moore linen white. It's like an aged white.
michigan_2426
Original Author
13 years ago
I found what you mean by shaker now, I'll have to look at them in person now.
michigan_2426
Original Author
13 years ago
Yep, that is too bold for me with the black doors :), but for those that like bold and can pull it off that is a great idea, thanks.
PRO
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
13 years ago
Supa Doors makes the shaker style door I'm talking about. But I'm sure many other companies do also.
martha50
13 years ago
Love your door choice and idea to paint. It is a lot of work to paint and my neighbor undertook the same project. However, she choose to replace some of the trim rather than paint it, especially in the more public areas of the house. (Really depended on how beat-up the trim was.) She was also able to add to inches of the trim. She also added ceiling molding/trim in some rooms. This change really lightened up the house and updated it. White trim is so fresh and easier to match any paint color.
I'm dying to do the same to my house, but I find the work daunting!
Maggie V
4 years ago
Here are the steps I go through for a durable surface: 1) Clean with TSP 2) Caulk/fill holes as needed 3) Lightly sand 4) Tack 5) Apply a good stain blocking bonding primer 6) Apply a good quality urethane trim enamel Some products from my latest trim project (shown in the background of the bondo/enamal picture..) The color is Snowbound.

i wanted to give more weight to some existing baseboards and measured up the wall and applied chair railing then painted the molding and wall between.

i like the effect of brooming PPG metallic paint over a base coat It is super easy and I’d be glad to share the technique if it’s not too out there. Here are a couple of finished cabinets.

This cabinet had that orangish color before I started.

i always paint sample boards and keep a sample bins for all my projects.. Here are my sample boards and bin for the bathroom above from 3 years ago

I have fun doing all this, especially painting. Put on some good music an rock out! This can be a very Zen process and that always spills over into how we live in the space.

Have fun! Enjoy the process one chunk at a time. You’ve got this and we have your back.

….Oh, you can alway wrap your brushes in foil to keep from needing to wash them every day
Maggie V
4 years ago
How did I get that into the wrong stream? Oh well, it would have been applicable if we could rewind the calendar!